p.7 #1 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
GMPhotography wrote:
I would be ordering from OWC itself since they most likely have them updated already as BH might be older stock. I order everything directly from OWC. Always go to the source IMHO. My new card was updated and had the Adapter. I had to update an older card.
Yep, straight to OWC. I checked mine to verify what OWC said and all of them were on the newest firmware.
p.7 #3 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
My 480Gb cards showed up today and neither one included the adapter. Just the clear plastic case to hold the type A cards as shown previously. I will need to check with OWC on the firmware version as I don't have one of their card readers, just my old Sony MRW-G2.
p.7 #4 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
CPWarner wrote:
My 480Gb cards showed up today and neither one included the adapter. Just the clear plastic case to hold the type A cards as shown previously. I will need to check with OWC on the firmware version as I don't have one of their card readers, just my old Sony MRW-G2.
p.7 #5 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
CPWarner wrote:
My 480Gb cards showed up today and neither one included the adapter. Just the clear plastic case to hold the type A cards as shown previously. I will need to check with OWC on the firmware version as I don't have one of their card readers, just my old Sony MRW-G2.
Same, my 480 cards arrived directly from OWC without the A2B adapter
p.7 #7 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
jhapeman wrote:
Yep, straight to OWC. I checked mine to verify what OWC said and all of them were on the newest firmware.
Once I saw this thread I ordered two 480 cards, then further into the thread I saw the firmware upgrade and I contacted them to make sure that I get updated cards, mine was shipped then I got an email from support that the cards were shipped without update
p.7 #8 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
Oh crap! I did not read the thread this week and just received the 480GB card with the Type B adapater.
However, I cannot find on the website which FW is the current one. Mine has ELFM95.2.
If anyone knows it would be great, because I'm afraid to use it in the various countries with no access. I don't have the OWC reader nor would have any use for it.
p.7 #9 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
LBJ2 wrote:
If you just bought their Reader very recently for full price because you read about the firmware issue, get in touch with OWC support and ask for the 50% discount/credit.
MikeEvangelist wrote:
Definitely will do that. (although they have yet to respond to a support message I sent yesterday.) Must be busy trying to sort out this little mess.
LBJ2 wrote:
I am positive they have been and are currently slammed with requests for assistance for their card firmware issue. Normally their chat or telephone service has been almost immediate access or at least within minutes very recently. Email normally can take a day or few.
FWIW, they have worked with me in the past when I've asked for similar assistance as your Reader situaiton. 🤞🏼
They should post the old and new FW version numbers on the website, and affected SN ranges if applicable. There should be a FW update utility that functions with any Type card reader. It's not rocket science.
Are the OWC a reliable business with 100s of employees or a few guys in an office with everything done outsourced?
p.7 #10 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
Lotuselite wrote:
I was inclined to think that was fine but now am curious to see if I can find the actual Firmware version on the card.
So far I have not found a way to do that. One piece of info said that you needed a particular type of reader and software from the manufacturer so I suppose I may have to leave it at that but I am still curious.
There are various tools that show the FW, SN, reads, writes, hours, temperature, SMART status, etc. One that is quite simple and works well is Crystal Disk Info.
They been doing Mac diy equipment sales in large volume for a long time. Very innovative company offering cutting edge Mac peripheral equipment.
I was slightly disappointed that I could not stop there onsite to get the update done, but I later realized they don't have a retail section of their company for walk-ins.
I was on the phone for longer than I should have been, but I think this issue caught them off guard, and they probably aren't staffed for the amount of traffic the announcement caused.
Here's one other thing I will say, based on my conversations with them. This "issue" will probably never rear its ugly head to us photographers. It is an issue that "could" happen with intense usage by those using the cards in everyday computer storage related devices, meaning it's running all the time doing high volume, high intensity applications. I have read from other sources (not OWC) that other brands may have the same issues with their cfa cards when used in these applications, but have not gone public with the "potential" issue.
I was on the phone for quite a while, but they felt bad and sent the reader out next day. I was so impressed I ordered more cards and they REALLY fly! My initial concern about the card bricking was probably unrealistic because of the use pattern that causes the problem. Burning up 30fps on my new a1ii and slamming the buffer more than likely wasn't going to brick the card, but now I am updated and have no worries.
p.7 #12 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
I only ran one cycle, but do plan to hit the card heavily for multiple full write/read verify cycle tests. I sure would not be filling the card in camera in under 15 minutes.
So far it is obviously not a good idea to use the A-B adapter as the card heats quickly and rapidly approaches 70°C on writes. Unfortunately I do not have a Gen 2x2 reader for Type A but it's near the speed limits for the 10Gb USB otherwise and not too hot in a native reader. The adapter is acting as a thermal insulator. It seems delivery of the card already in the adapter is hit or miss, so I should not complain.
I just wish there were some clarity about the exact technical issue, but it's not like when Samsung or Micron or Solidigm has an issue that affects millions of users and there are plenty of folks delving into the details online. If I cannot get an definitive answer on which is the current FW in the next few days, I'll hopefully be able to RMA for a refund. Unfortunately my timing is tight on this project and life is too short for defectives. I'm a firm believer in burn-in write/read testing to get past the early failure curve.
p.7 #13 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
EB-1 wrote:
I only ran one cycle, but do plan to hit the card heavily for multiple full write/read verify cycle tests. I sure would not be filling the card in camera in under 15 minutes.
So far it is obviously not a good idea to use the A-B adapter as the card heats quickly and rapidly approaches 70°C on writes. Unfortunately I do not have a Gen 2x2 reader for Type A but it's near the speed limits for the 10Gb USB otherwise and not too hot in a native reader. The adapter is acting as a thermal insulator. It seems delivery of the card already in the adapter is hit or miss, so I should not complain.
I just wish there were some clarity about the exact technical issue, but it's not like when Samsung or Micron or Solidigm has an issue that affects millions of users and there are plenty of folks delving into the details online. If I cannot get an definitive answer on which is the current FW in the next few days, I'll hopefully be able to RMA for a refund. Unfortunately my timing is tight on this project and life is too short for defectives. I'm a firm believer in burn-in write/read testing to get past the early failure curve.
p.7 #14 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
EB-1 wrote:
Oh crap! I did not read the thread this week and just received the 480GB card with the Type B adapater.
However, I cannot find on the website which FW is the current one. Mine has ELFM95.2.
If anyone knows it would be great, because I'm afraid to use it in the various countries with no access. I don't have the OWC reader nor would have any use for it.
p.7 #15 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
EB-1 wrote:
They should post the old and new FW version numbers on the website, and affected SN ranges if applicable. There should be a FW update utility that functions with any Type card reader. It's not rocket science.
Are the OWC a reliable business with 100s of employees or a few guys in an office with everything done outsourced?
EBH
I have been in touch with OWC support via chat a few times these last few days concerning the card's firmware issue. There is currently no OWC website reference for the latest firmware update or affected S/Ns. But a few of us have posted the latest card firmware as of today on this thread which is ELFM 95.2. so you are good to go. *I don't know of any company currently that allows firmware updates to CFexpress cards with just any old Reader 3.0 or the new 4.0 CFexpress( I work with a few brands). This is one of the main reasons I recommend to buy like branded Readers for those brands that do offer access to card health checks, sanitize and update firmware for their CFe cards.
BTW, OWC/MacSales is a 35 year old company that specializes in "storage, upgrade and expansion products for Mac and iOS device users around the globe." https://eshop.macsales.com/about-us from my experience very well known in the Mac community for some years now.
p.7 #16 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
FWIW, my 480GB card ordered Jan 21, 2025 directly from Macsales/OWC came with a CFe B to A adapter. Support told me it was already updated when I contacted them. CrystalDiskInfo shows it has Firmware: ELFM95.2 which is the latest per people who have updated.
p.7 #17 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
Thanks EB-1 There are various tools that show the FW, SN, reads, writes, hours, temperature, SMART status, etc. One that is quite simple and works well is Crystal Disk Info.
I'm guessing that Crystal Disk Info is Windows only unless I am looking in the wrong place ??
p.7 #19 · Deal alert -- OWC CFe-A 4.0 cards on sale
EB-1 wrote:
Oh crap! I did not read the thread this week and just received the 480GB card with the Type B adapater.
However, I cannot find on the website which FW is the current one. Mine has ELFM95.2.
If anyone knows it would be great, because I'm afraid to use it in the various countries with no access. I don't have the OWC reader nor would have any use for it.
EBH
GMPhotography wrote:
Your Current. I posted this earlier
Thanks. Searching at FM is not the best. I had just unpacked the card, was in the middle of testing it, and then found an article online from earlier this week. Perhaps I got lucky that the BH were out of stock for a couple days and the new shipment was good. Shipping options were not good for me this week directly from the OCW.
I don't have a CFe NVME 1.4 reader at this location. The speeds seem near the limit for NVMe single lanes (1.3), so that is probably the limiting factor. Realistically the write speeds should be adequate for the current cameras. It's still unclear what is up with being only VPG 200 vs. VPG 400. Maybe somebody has info on how the controller uses the flash memory.
) you're getting in 10gbps reader?